The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-24

A TRUSTY'S TREACHERY REWARD
ED WITH A BULLET.


ored Prisoner, Shot Twice Before He
VIII Give Inward, the Safe Blower,
the Designer of the Movement-Dep-
uty Hasted's Prompt Use of His Pts
toll Prevents Jail Delivery.
Some time ago the prisoners in the county
Jail concocted plan TO break out, but it
was frustrated and since then they have
apparently been quietly awaiting the fates
in store for them. The Jail authorities have
not been certain that trouble would not
come however, for they have some bad
characters locked up in the old pile, and
they have been carefully watching every
thing to prevent an attempt at
jail-breaking. Their care was not
without effect, for they succeeded
in baking the purpose of the prisoners to
free themselves only yesterday morning.
Tuesday night passed quietly and without
the slightest intimation that there was an
adventure awaiting the keepers of the male
factors. After the prisoners went to bed the
jail was as still as if it were uninhabited ex-
cept for the snoring of one or two heavy
sleepers. Late in the night few of the
prisoners called for water at various times,
them Wright is the colored man who
killed his wife's paramour at Thunderbolt
about year and a half ago He has been
confined since July 20, 1856, and be is now
awaiting the action of Supreme
Court upon the life sentence
which he received in the Superior
Court. His long confinement has told upon
his health, and the physicians said he must
have more exercise than he had been
allowed. He was quiet man in whom the
guards had confidence, SO he was left in an
unlocked cell, and his duties were those of
cleaning up the corridor, tending the fire,
giving the prisoners water and similar light
services.
HIS WEAPON FAILED HIM.
James Oman, a guard, was on duty in
the lower corridor when Wright left
his cell at 8 o'clock in the morning for
the purpose of giving one of the prison
ers a drink. Instead of returning to his
cell Wright started TO where the guard was
standing. Oman suspected something and
without assuming a threatening attitude
got his club ready for use. Wright walked
straight up to him and when he got within
few feet leaped upon him and grappled
his club, Wright attempted TO
throw him TO the floor. The guard rained
blows upon the prisoners head thick and
fast, but they had no effect. He endeav-
ored to maintain his position while still he
used his weapon. He paused for a moment,
raised his club high, and brought it down on
the trusty's head with terrific force. The
club snapped at the handle as if it had been
made of glass, and the blow only served to
increase the strength of the treacherous
prisoner, for he made more powerful ex-
ertion, and lifting the guard from his feet
threw him to the floor Oman reached
for his pistol and drew it.
OMAN RECEIVES ASSISTANCE.
He began calling for help and repeated
his calls continuously He raised his pistol
TO shoot Wright, who had picked up the
heavy end of the club and was using it upon
the guards head. Deputy Hasted, who was
in the office, rushed TO the outer door. He
heard the noise of the scuffle but dared not
go in. He did not know whether the pris-
oners were all loose, and as he had the keys
he was afraid If he opened the door he
would be struck or overpowered and
the keys taken from him. He
called aloud for assistance, but there
was no one near. John Sullivan, the guard
in the upper corridor, heard the cries, how
ever, and promptly ran down stairs. AS
soon as Deputy Hasted found that he could
enter without danger of having the keys
taken from him he unlocked the door and
ran in. He and Sullivan hastened to where
the guard and the prisoner were engaged in
their desperate conflict
THE TRAITOR SHOT.
Oman was still down, while Wright was
beating him brutally with his broken club
in one hand and trying with the other to
wrest his pistol from him. Oman still had
hold of his pistol, but he knew that Wright
might turn it backwards and fire at the
deputy and his assistant, so he called out to
Hasted, Look out, Henry, he can shoot
YOU with my pistol" "Get back to your
CELL commanded Hasted, but Wright only
struggled more fiercely for DinanS
weapon. Get back to your cell, or
I'll shoot you" said Hasted, but
Wright needed him not Feeling that every
moments delay brought danger with it,
Hasted raised his pistol and fired The ball
struck Wright over the right eye but it
might as well have struck an adamant for
it glanced off from his thick skull, and had
no effect, except to make Wright stoop
down and place his body so near to that of
Oman that Hasted could not shoot without
more danger of hitting the guard than
him.
THE EFFECTIVE SHOT.
Hasted saw this, and dared not fire to KILL
but he shot three times to try and scare the
traitor, and the effect was satisfactory He
released his hold upon the guard and started
backward toward his cell. He looked de-
fiance and glared steadily at Hasted. who
lieiu LIS sulOhluB plSpOl III us nallu. onOOb
him, Henry, he has weapon" called out
Oman, and Hasted fired his last shot.
That one took effect in Wright's
side, striking about the abdomen
passing out without tou7hing dangerous
epot. Wright fell in his cell and imnedi-
ately became penitent. He thought that he
had received a mortal wound and begged the
deputy to come to his assistance. Hasted
went in and undresSed him and examined
his wound. A telephone message was sent
to Dr. Chisholm, who went at once to the
Jail He found Oman badly beaten, and
after dressing his wounds sent him home.
He attended Wright, and after an examina-
ton of his wounds found that he was not
dangerously hurt. When Hasted left
Wright's cell he locked the door carefully,
and WriglIt's service as trusty came to an
end then and there
CASsIDYs CARE FOR HIMSELF.
During all the fight not prisoner in tho
Jail uttered a sound. Not one made a move
ment that could be heard. Everything was
as still as the jail had been before the
struggle commenced, except for the sound
of the blows and the call of the guards for
help. 1t was not their purpose to create
noise that would attract anyone. They
waited in quietness, hoping that the guards
would be overpowered by the one they
had selected for that dangerous task
After Hested fired there was
cOmmOtiOn among them and thaxr 1yara